Transversely-divided boot or shoe last.



' Patented Aug, 7., 1900.

A. D. In. TBANSVERSELY DIVI UT 0R SHOE LAST.

(Application fil I y 22, 1899.)

2 sheets sheet (No Model.)

Wbzeaaes. g 62. 046W Patented Aug. 7, 1900. A. n. TYLER, 1n. TRANSVEBSELY DIVIDED 800T 0R sum; LAST. (Application filed. July 22, 1899.)

2 .Sheets-Shaat 2 (No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABEL D. TYLER, J R., OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD S. BEACH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. v

TRANSVE RSELY-DIVIDED BOOT OR SHOE LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,314, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed JulyZZ, 1899. SerialNo. 724,798. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, ABEL D. TYLER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transversely-Divided Boot or Shoe Lasts and the Like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of my new last in its preferred form, the parts being broken away for greater clearness. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the last shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on line 8 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4 at of Fig. 1 looking toward the fore part. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modification in which a single ring-guide is used to connect the fore part and heel part. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 5,

a side being broken away for greater clearness. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a modification in which a segmental guideor bent plate is used as a guide, the bent plate being fastened in this instance in the heel part. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail illustrating another form of bent plate, the ends of which are fastened in the heel part.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, A is the fore part, and B the heel part, of a transversely-divided boot or shoe last, by which term I mean to include all forms and kinds of lasts, trees, fillers, followers, first lasts, second lasts, displayforms, &c., in which the novel features of my invention may be embodied.

The main objects of my invention are to simplify, cheapen, and improve that class of boot and shoe lasts which are commonly included within the term transversely-divided lasts in its most extensive signification.

vices, Inow dispense with hinges and use in lieu thereof curved guides D, which are preferably ringshaped, though they may be segmental in some cases, if sodesired. In the To con-- nect the foreparts and heel parts of such de-' now-preferred form of my invention I form the sides of the transversely-divided last each with an annular recess cl, the middle of which is preferably at or near the bottom of the V- shaped opening, which extends in the now usual manner from the top of the last about half-way down to the bottom of the last. In these recesses d I mount the curved guides, which are preferably rings, the rings being preferably of metal, of any proper cross-sectional shape, and preferably placed with their outer edges in about an eighth of an inch from the outer surfaces of the last, the outer portions of the recesses being preferably fitted up by suitable fillers (1. These circular guides may vary in number from one upward without departure from my invention. They connect the fore part and heel part together, and tho ugh held in the recesses by the fillers or in any other suitable manner nevertheless sufficiently fill the recesses to keep the connected parts in proper relation one to the other and at the same time permit the parts to be swung upwardly one in relation to the other. Thus the heel part may be swung upward to shorten the last for proper removal of the boot or shoe. The inner end surfaces of the heel part and fore part below the bottom of the V-shaped or otherproperly-shaped opening form contacting surfaces, which prevent the last from collapsing bottomward, and the upper portions of the circular guides, curving downwardly within the fore part and heel part, assist in preventing bottomward displacement of the connected parts. While this circular-guideconnection or holder for some uses is of itself a sufficient connection between the fore part and heel art, yet in such of my new lasts as are inten ed for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes wherein the shapers or lasts are subjected to a variety of severe trains and pressures I provide at or near the bottom of the V-shaped opening a main bearing F, which is preferably in the form' of a round piece of wood or metal and extends preferably from side to'side ofthe last, a curved wall f of the bearing projecting from a wall of the heel part into a curved transverse slot f in the opposed wall of the fore part, the heel part conveniently carrying the bearing. As when the fore part and heel part are in alinement the under surface of the bearing-receiving recess or slot f impinges on the under surface of the projecting bearing, the bearin g greatly assists in preventing the lasts from being deformed under the twisting strains to which they are frequently subjected; but to give the shapers still greater strength to resist the twisting strains I prefer to provide a holder or steadying device F below the bearing F, this holder being conveniently formed of a transverse pin carried by one of the parts and projecting therefrom on its inner face above the bottom of the last and entering a corresponding transverse recess f when the parts are alined. Friction between the walls of the curved guides and of the recesses, within which the curved guides are contained, will tend when friction is present, as it ordinarily will be, to keep the heel part and fore part in alinement, those portions of the curved guide which are adjacent to that part of the curved guide which passes through the V- shaped space in consequence of said friction serving to a certain extent, and efficiently for some uses of the last, to perform the function of a locking device, so called.

The advantages of my invention are increased cheapness of construction and resistance to twisting strains and the elimination of hinges and fastening pins and the like therefor.

It will be obvious to all mechanics and persons familiar with this art that my invention may be embodied in a great variety of difierout forms, if so desired, and I desire to claim as my invention in the broadest legally-permissible manner.

In Fig. 5, showing a modification, the opposed ends of the heel part and fore part are chambered out on a curve between the side edges and ring X is mounted in said opposed recesses. The end walls as of said recesses are formed with grooves struck on a circle concentric with the ring X and are adjacent to the interior wall of said ring. The ring being seated in the recess of the heel part is held in place by a locking-block X, having ears as, which are slid into said groove in the end walls 06 of the heel part. Thus the block is locked in the heel part and holds the ring therein. Then the projecting part of the ring is seated in the recess of the fore part, which, in like manner as the heel part, receives within the recess two blocks X and X each hav- K ifig-ears 0a fitting and sliding in the groove formed in the end walls :0 of the fore part. The block X being slid into place makes room for the insertion of the next block X which is in form just like the block X These this instance to the heel part by the pin y and the fore-part end y of the plate being a sliding plate to fit in the guide 2 In the modification Fig. 9 the bent plate Z is similarly inserted, the ends and plate being bent to form eyes and pinned in place in the heel part. This ring Z isinserted on the side of the last, and the mouth of the receiving-groove may be filled up with suitable material, as in the case of the preferred form.

What I claim is l. The combination of the fore part and heel part of a boot or shoe last with a substantially ring-shaped guide which is mounted in recesses in said parts, connects said parts and permits movement of one part in relation to the other to shorten the last.

2. The combination of the fore part and heel part of a boot or shoe last with a pair of substantially ring-shaped guides which are mounted in recesses in said parts, connect said parts and permit the movement of one of said parts in relation to the other part to shorten the last, one of said guides being mounted near one side of the last and the other guide being mounted near the other side of the last. I

3. The combination of a fore part and heel part of a boot or shoe last; with a curved guide mounted in recesses in said parts, connectin g the parts and permitting movement of one part in relation to the other part; the inner walls of said parts at the upper portion of the last being shaped to form an opening in the upper part of the last 5 a bearing near the bottom of said opening, and mounted in one of said parts and projecting therefrom; and a corresponding recess in the opposed wall of the other part to receive said bearing.

4. The combination of a fore part and heel part of a boot' or shoe last, with a curved guide mounted in said parts, connecting the same and permitting movement of either of said parts in relation to the other part; the inner walls of said parts at the upper portion of the last being shaped to form an opening in the upper part of the last; a transverse bearing near the bottom of said opening, mounted on one of said parts and projecting therefrom; a corresponding recess in the'opposed wall of the other part to receive said bearing; a projection from the inner end of one part; and a corresponding recess in the opposed wall of the other part to receive said projection.

5. A multipart divided shoe-last, the parts whereof are in contact substantially from the bottom of the last to an intermediate point removed from the bottom sufficiently to prevent the last from tending to collapse when in use, said last presenting two diverging lines of cut extending from said intermediate point to the top of the last; and a substantially ringshaped guide mounted in said parts, connecting them and permitting movement of one part in relation to the other part.

6. A boot or shoe last comprising a plurality of parts, in combination with a substantially ring-shaped guide mounted in and connecting said parts which are formed, at the upper part of the last, with a downwardlyextending recess which permits upward movement of one part in relation to the other part, and, at the lower part of the last, with inner ends shaped to contact when the heel part and fore part are in alinement.

7. A bonded last comprising a heel-section and a fore-part section and a bond connected to one of said sections, said bond being formed with a curved end arranged and adapted to slide in a complemental socket in the other section, whereby the last may be shortened by the movement of one section relative to the other.

8. A bonded last comprising in its construction a heel-section and a fore-part section and a bond connected to one of said sections, one end of said bond being formed with a curved part arranged to have a sliding engagement with a complemental part upon the other section, whereby the last may be shortened by the movement of one section relative to the other. I

9. As a new article of manufacture, atransversely-divided last comprising a fore part and heel part having reciprocal abutting surfaces at their inner ends; and, also a free space between their inner ends; and, also opposed circular, guide-receiving recesses at their inner ends, the centers of said recesses being in a line passing through the last from side to side thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABEL D. TYLER, JR. 

